Grapevine girls basketball coach puts family first, resigns

Lindy Slagle is a basketball lifer. The game has been in her DNA ever since she was toddler.

But after the Grapevine head girls basketball coach started her family with the birth of her son Owen this past December, something had to yield.

To reduce the strain of her schedule, Slagle is stepping down after three seasons. She informed her team recently. The search to find her replacement begins immediately.

“It’s a demanding schedule,” Slagle said. “There are some men’s and women’s head coaches who are great at coaching and being parents. That’s just not for me. For me personally, this is the best choice for me to do it this way.”

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I want to be much more present for my family. I don’t have to worry about open gym or if we’re signed up for a spring league. Things like that.

- Lindy Slagle, on her decision to step down as Grapevine’s head girls basketball coach

Slagle, 37, guided the program to the postseason in each season along with two district championships. She directed the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 teams to the Class 5A Region I quarterfinals. The 2016-2017 team advanced to the area round before falling to Denton Ryan. Prior to Grapevine, Slagle spent one season at Saginaw Chisholm and guided that program to its initial playoff appearance. She has an 87-40 career record. Slagle served at Dianna Sager’s top assistant at Colleyville Heritage for six seasons.

This decision was probably four months in the making. Slagle was out for six weeks Owen was born in late December. However, she was given clearance to return on a part-time basis. She returned to the team on Jan. 13 and served as an assistant, per district maternity policy.

Slagle returned to the lead chair when the postseason began. But it just didn’t feel the same. Priorities changed.

“I wanted to tell the players quickly, so there wouldn’t be any wondering about what things were going to look like,” Slagle said. “The basketball season is a long season. I’m very aware of the demands and the time that goes into it. That’s why I’m doing this. There’s time at home and the summers are there.

“I want to be much more present for my family. I don’t have to worry about open gym or if we’re signed up for a spring league. Things like that.”

However, Slagle hasn’t gotten out of coaching yet. She said she is exploring opportunities to be an assistant coach at other locations. There is a difference between being a head coach and assistant because of extra administrative duties.

However, if those do not pan out, she said she would be happy to return to Grapevine and teach. She is certified to teach in English and special education.

While the search for a replacement will examine all possibilities, varsity assistant Collin McKinney likely will be considered. He served as the interim head coach while Slagle was out. McKinney has been a head coach earlier in his career.

Time will tell if Slagle will ever return to a lead chair. But she also has aspirations including becoming a high school guidance counselor.

“You never say never, but it’s not something I want to do right now,” Slagle said. “I’ve done a lot of in 12 years. There might be a time where I don’t see myself coaching at all. But that’s something I’ll look at when the time is right.”